One of the problems to which the doctrine of anamnesis is an answer in Plato's dialogue Meno . If we do not understand something, then we cannot set about learning it, since we do not know enough to know how to begin. This implausible view is echoed in philosophies of language that see the infant as a ‘little linguist’, having to translate surrounding language back into a home medium at least equally rich in conceptual resources to the language being learned. See language of thought.
Philosophy dictionary. Academic. 2011.